…"If My people who bear My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My presence and turn from their wicked ways, I Myself will hear from Heaven and forgive their sins…" (2 Chron. 7:14) – "You will see that in prayer you will find more knowledge, more light, more strength, more grace and virtue than you could ever achieve by reading many books, or by great studies. Never consider as wasted the time you spend in prayer. You will discover that in prayer God communicates to you the light, strength and grace you need…" (Sr Lucia dos Santos)

EACH MINUTE BEARS THE IMPRESSION OF YOUR INTENTION

Have you counted the number of minutes which have elapsed since your birth? This number is enormous: nine millions, nine hundred and ninety-one thousand two hundred and sixty.

And all these minutes have ascended to God; and God has examined them one by one. He has weighed them; they must serve to pay for your eternity.

Each one bears the impression of your intention, as each piece of money bears the effigy of some prince; and those alone pass current in eternity which are marked with the image of God.

Should not this reflection make us tremble?

“I have never understood,” says Eugénie de Guérin, “the confidence of those who present themselves before God with no other credentials than social good conduct, as if our duties were enclosed in the narrow circle of this world.“

The fact of being “a nice son, a nice neighbour or a nice brother” is not sufficient to obtain admission for us into heaven. God requires other merits…from him on whom He bestows an eternal crown of glory.